Herman hollerith



(No Model.)

H. HOLLERITH.

INTEGRATING APPARATUS.

No. 408,106. Patented July 30,'1889.

N. PETERS. Fhololjthognpher, Washinglon. D. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

HERMAN IIOLLERITH, OF NElV YORK, N. Y.

INTEGRATING APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 408,106, dated July 30,1889. Application filed May a, 1889. Serial No. 309,432. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMAN I-IOLLERITH, of the city of New York, and State of New York, have in vented a certain new and useful Improvement in Integrating Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus for automatically integrating and registering the performance of various descriptions of measuring and indicating devices, and is applicable to any device or indicator wherein a variation in the rate, quantity, or strength of the flow of a current through the device is denoted by or causes a definite, although not necessarily a proportional, variation in the movement of the device or some part thereofsuch, for instance, as an index-arm.

Under this general description of the apparatus to which my invention may be applied, and which may be designated generically by the term rate-indicators, may be classed devices for indicating the rate of flow of steam, gas, water, electricity, and other fluids. For instance, it is well known that in numerous electrical devices the rate at which the current is flowing through the apparatus is indicated by the position of an index-arm or pointer. Such an apparatus may therefore be called an electric rate-indicator. Indicators for determining the rate of flow of a current or volume of steam have long been in use. One special type thereof is constructed with proper inlet and outlet valves and with an internal pistonvalve which controls the area of an oiifice through which the steam passes. \Vhen no steam is passing through theindicator, the orifice is entirely closed; but when steam is admitted by opening the inlet and outlet valves the pressure of the steam causes the internal piston-valve to rise and uncover the orifice. As the demand abates the valve falls automatically reducing the area of the orifice, and when the demand increases the valve auton'iatically rises and the area of the orifice is increased sufficiently to pass the requisite quantity of steam to supply the increased demand. This indicator is so constructed that there will always be a constant difference of pressure between the induction and eduction passages of the apparatus. Consequently the steam will always pass through the orifice under a constant head, and the rate at which it is flowing will always be indicated by the position of an index or arm connected with the valve which governs the size of the orifice. Another form of steam-rate indicator is provided with a diaphragm furnished with an orifice of fixed size, through which the steam passes under a constant initial pressure. In this form of indicator the position of an index or arm is varied by different rates of flow corresponding to varying differences of pressure on the induction and eduction sides of the orifice.

lVith any rate-indicator, whether of the particular descriptions just referred to or of the general class first named, by determining the position of an index indicating the rate of flow through the instrument periodically at short intervals, determining therefrom the corresponding rate of flow and integrating the results, an average rate will be obtained, from which the total flow in a given time can be computed. In practical operation, however, it is impossible to determine the different positions of the index by actual observation, because of the frequency and regularity with which the readings must be made, and the object of my invention is to provide an apparatus whereby the total flow through a rate-indicator will be automatically determined; and it consists, generally, in a device provided with what I have termed herein a contact-surface, such surface being shaped to correspond with the curve representing the different rates, or, as I have called it, the law of the rate-indicator, and of mechanism adapted to traverse such contact-surface, periodically or at regular intervals, along that ordinate of the curve which corresponds with or represents the rate of fiow through the indicator while said surface and its traversing mechanism are in contact.

It consists, further, of registering mechanism adapted to be actuated by such traversing mechanism or while itis in contact with said surface; and it consists, further, of the novel details of construction and arrangement and combination of parts hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, Figure l is a view in elevation and partly in section elf my device. .llig. i is a plan view thtaeol, and Fig. 3 is a detail view showing a modified construction of the contact-surface and traversing-wheel.

Similar letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding parts in all the views.

\Vithin a suitable frame-work or casing A is journaled the shaft l3, carrying the drum or cylinder 0. The drum (l is provided with a contact-surface (1, which in the drawings is shown as raised abovethesurfaee of the drum itself. This contact-surfaceis shaped to come spendwith the curve representing the differcut rates of flow through the rate-indicator. A coil-spring l),mounted on the arbor 1E, drives the drum-aetuating gears e e, the latter ot' which meshes with a pinion l) on shaft B. A latch l is supported on a pivot atfat one side of the dru m, and is adapted to engage normall with a projectionf on thedrum (,1. A clockmovement (t is located by prel'erenee, within the casing adjacent to the drum 0, and a wheel 5 controlled thereby, is caused to revolve contin nously at aregular rate of speed, th us brii 1ging the spur g, carried by said. wheel, periodically into contact: with the projection. f on the lower end of latch. l whereby the latter .is tripped at regular n'edetermined intervals and released. trom its engagement with the projection f, thus permitting the drum to be revolved quickly on its axis in the direction shown by the arrow under the action of the coil-spring l) and intermediate gearing. Lugs or ears projecting from the frame of the clock-work, serve to support the latch l and a suitable spring f tends to press the upper end of the latch toward the drum. (7, so that atterbeing released from engagement with the projection f" it will itv back into the path of said projection before the revolution ol? the drum 0 is completed, thus arresting the movement of the d rum upon the completion of one revolution.

\Vithin the casing A, and parallel with the axis of drum C, is journaled the spindle ll, on which is mounted the wheell. They are connected with each other by a spline or leather 71/, so that the spindle will be revolved by the rotation of the wheel, while the latter is free to be moved along the ,tornnn-in the direction of its length. A pinion .l' is keyed to one end of the spindle ll, outside the main frame A, and meshes with and operates the dial-train j y'j and dial-hands 7.: 7.v /r.

The hub of: wheel l is swiveled in a collar or sleeve '1 mounted on the end ot' the index. arm or lever l), and the wheel .I' is moved up or down on the spindle ll at each movement of the index-arm 1.. Tlhisimlex-arm is suitabl v connected wit h the ralie-indicator, and its movement or position, and consequently the position ol wheel 1 relativel lo the contact;- surl'aee C, will imrrespond at all times with the rate of llow through the rateindicator. When no currentispassingthrough the indicator, the wheel I will be in the position shown in Fig. .l, and when the flow is at its maximum the wheel will be in aposilion opposite the lower portion ot' the eoulact-surl'ace, as shown bv the dotted lines, 'l ig. l. "hen the wheel I in the position shown by tlnr'lfult lines in Fig. l, it the drum be revolved no portion of its surface will come in contact with the wheel, which will remain stationary duringthe rotation of the drum; but the drum and. spindle are so placed relatively to each other that; if the wheel I is lowered by the movement; of the index-arm, then, when the drum (1 revolves the raised or contact surl'ace 0 will engage with the ieripher ol' thowheel 1, thereby rdtating it. while such contact-surface is passing under it, the extent of the rotation depending onthe length ot' t he ordinal e of the curve which is traversed by the wheel, and therefore upon the position of the wheel I as determined by the position ol' the indexarm. To insure sul'lieient friction between the contaet-surliaie and the wheel l, the periphery of the latter maybe made concave and titted with a round rubber ring or lire, or the cont'atai-surlace (7 may be serrated in lines parallel with the axis of the drum and the peripher ol' the wheel I provided with teeth which will mesh with the serrated portion of the drum, as shown in l ig. it.

As stated, the shape or conlou r of the contact-surface U :made to correspoml with the enrve representing the dill'erenl. rates ol' flow or law of the rate-indieator. This curve is determined by passing a currentthrough the indicator at a given rate, determim d by a standard instrument and noting the posit ion of the index-arm; then at another rate and almtlier, and so on until each rate of flow for each desired position of the index-arm is determined. Then a point corresponding to each position of the index-arm is laid out upon a base-line, and 'l'rom each {)(lllllltlll such base line an ordinate is laid out, the length ol' which corresponds with the rate ol? flow through the indieatm when the indcx-arm is in the posi tion corespomling with the position ol such ordinate. From these ordinates a curve is eonstructechwhich represents what l have termed herein the .law of the rate-indieator," and the contact-surl'aee( is shaped to correspond with this curve or, ratlnn, with the area illeluded within the base-line and the curve. The wheel I is arranged so that when a cur rent is passing through the indicator at a given rate the wheel will traverse that portion ol? the contact-surface which corresponds with the ordinate reprcstmting l he rate ol' flow l'or that pz'lirtir wular position of the index-arm.

'lhe main .l:'rann' -worl A issuilablvat laehed lo the rate-imlicator, orotlunwise maintained in. position, and the dial-lrain is inelosod within a shell or auxiliary casing j, upon which the dials ma vbc enameled or otherwise allixcd.

'lhc o an'ation ol my invention will now be readily understood. lhe clock-train (i having been arranged to trip the latch ll at regnlar intervals, at the proper instant; the drum O is released, and, under the action of the coil-spring D, makes one revolution quickly and is then arrested by the latch F, the upper end of which has in the meantime fallen into the path of the stop f, attached to the drum. At the expiration of the predetermined interval, which is of such duration as may be found desirable-say, for instance, five minutes or ten minutes-the drum is again permitted to revolve as before, the revolutions being continued at regular intervals or periodically while the apparatus is in operation, the springs which actuate the drum and clocktrain being rewound before they run. completely down, so that their action is continuous. IV hen no current is flowing through the indicator, as before stated, the wheel I will not be rotated by the revolution of the drum, and consequently the dial or registering train will not be actuated thereby; but as soon as a current begins to flow through the indicator the index-arm will be actuated thereby, and the positions of drum C and wheel I relatively to each other having been properly arranged for, the movement of the index-arm willmove the wheel I along the spindle II toa point opposite the ordinate of the contact-surface O, which represents the rate at which the currentis then tlowin g through the indicator. The revolution of the drum will now bring the contact-surface G into engagement with the wheel I and will cause it to rotate while such contact-surface is passing under it. As long as the ilow through the indicator continues each revolution of the drum C will rotate the wheel I more or less, depending entirely upon the position of the index-arm and wheel, and con sequently upon the length of the ordinate traversed by the wheel. The rotation of the wheel I causes-a corresponding movement in the dial-train and hands 7.: 70, which will be exactly proportionate to the rate at which the current is passing through the indicator at the time the revolution occurs.

The dial train and hands are so proportioned and arranged that the movement prod uced therein by one revolution of the drum C, when the index-arm is in a given position, will register in units of any previously-determined size or value the amount of fluid which with the index-arm in such given position will pass through the indicator during the fixed period elapsing between two revolutions of the drum.

It will thus be seen that with myinvention I am enabled to integrate and automatically register in units the performance of any rateindicator with the same degree of mathematical accuracy as is obtained in measuring an area included within a curve by calculations based on the length of frequently-occurring ordinates of such curve.

Various modifications may be made in the construction. of the apparatus besides those hereinbefore referred to. For some purposes it may be desirable to have the drum revolve continuously, in which case the latch can be dispensed with and the moven'ient of the drum regulated by the clock-movement. In using my invention with an electric rate-indicator, it may be desirable to substitute an electromotor for the coil-springs which release and actuate the drum 0. \Veights may also be substituted for these purposes, if desired. Several curves may be employed on the same drum, and the contact-surface 0, instead of being mounted on the drum, may be supported on a horizontal revoluble disk having short uprights, to which the contact-surface is secured, and such contact-surface may be fiat instead of cylindrical and arranged to reciprocate under the wheel 1. None of these modifications, however, would constitute a departure from my invention, the essential feature of which is a contact-surface shaped to represent the law of the rate-indicator.

I use the word periodically in the claims to designate the operation of the mechanism therein referred to, either with the drum 0 revolving continuously or at regular lixed intervals.

IIavin g thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination, with a rate-indicator, of a contact-surface shaped to correspond with the curve representing the law of the ratcindicator, mechanism adapted to traverse said contact-surface periodically, mechanism adapted to vary the relative positions of said contact-surface and said traversing mechanism to correspond with the varying rates of flow through the indicator, and a registering device adapted to be actuated while said traversing mechanism is passing across said contact-surface, substantially and for the purposes set forth.

The combination, with a rate-indicator, of a contact-surface shaped to correspond with the curve representing the law of the rateindicator, a wheel adapted to traverse said contact-surface, mechanism for varying the relative positions of said contact-surface and said wheel to correspond with the rate of flow through the indicator, and registering mechanism adapted to be actuated by the retation of said wheel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination, with a rate-indicator, of a revoluble contact-surface shaped-to correspond with the curve representing the law of the rate-indicator, a wheel adapted to traverse said contactsurface periodically, mechanism for varying the relative positions of said contact-surface and said wheel to correspond with the rate of flow through the indicator, and registering mechanism, adapted to be actuated by the rotation of said wheel, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

4. The combi nation, wi th a ratc-imlicator, of a revolublc drum having a portion of its surface shaped to correspond with the curve representing the law of the rate-indicator, a

wheel adapted to traverse such portion of said surface periodically, an indexarm carrying said wheel and adapted to vary the position thereof relatively to the drum in accordance with the rate of How through the indicator, and registering mechanism adapted to be actuated by the rotation of said wheel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

The combination, with a rate-iinlicator, ot' a revoluble drum having a raised surface shaped to eorresptmd with the curve representing the law of the rate-ilulicator, niech anism t'or revolving said drum at regular intervals, a wheel adapted to engage with and be rotated by said raised or contact surface of the drum as the latter revolves, an arm carrying said wheel and adapted to vary the position thereof relatively to said eontact-surlace in accordance with the rate of llow thrmigh the indicator, and a registering-train adapted to be actuated by the rotation of said wheel, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

l). The conilnnation, with a I'ZltG-ll'llllOttliOl', of a revoluble drum having a raised surface shaped to correspond with. the curve representing the law of the rate-i1n'lieator, mech anism for revolving said drum continumlsly at a uniform speed, a wheel. adapted to engage with and be rotated by said raised with and be rotated by said raised or (2011- tact surtatm as the drum revolves, an arm carrying said wheel and adapted to vary the position thcreol' relatively to said (ffilll'lttl surface in accordance with the rate of How through the int'licator, a latch adapted to release said drum and permit it to revolve at regular intervals, a stop to arrest the movement of said drum upon the completion of one revolution, and a registering-train adapted to be actuatral by the rotation of said wheel, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

I IE] {MAN I l'( )L L'ERI'II l.

Witnesses:

S. G. ME'JTCALF, WILLIAM L'INJ). 

